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Springfield casino proponents, opponents strive to get out the vote on ballot question

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Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International joins supporters holding an election eve stand-out at the intersection of Main, Harrison and Boland Way Monday night in Springfield in the photo at left. In the photo at right, members of Citizens Against Casino Gaming hold an election eve stand-out at the "X."
(Michael Beswick / The Republican)

SPRINGFIELD – Proponents and opponents of an MGM Resorts International casino had one goal in common on Monday — get out the vote for Tuesday.

The pro-casino and anti-casino forces were on the streets and on the telephone on Monday, lobbying to get out their supporters for Tuesday’s referendum election when voters decide if they support or reject a casino being proposed by MGM in the South End. The polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“I feel really good,” said William Hornbuckle, president of MGM Resorts and MGM Springfield. “We are confident but not cocky. The outreach has been there. Turnout seems like it is going to be good.”

“We feel good,” said Michael Kogut, chairman of Citizens Against Casino Gaming. “We felt we have been peaking the last seven to 10 days, and we fully expect our vote, the opponents, will be out on Tuesday and do what we need to do.”

Kogut has previously described the fight as “David versus Goliath,” with his group being the smaller David. Asked if he was confident of victory, he said: “We believe it’s close, a lot closer than reported. Also, if it’s close, but it does succeed, we feel we have done our job.”

Gladys Oyola, election commissioner in Springfield, said she is hopeful that voter turnout will be between 25 and 30 percent, given the importance of the ballot question and more than 900 requests for absentee ballots.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby was in Springfield on Monday, and said he is also hoping for a strong turnout and that voters let their voices be heard.

If the casino question fails, the MGM project is over, Crosby said. If it passes, there are many opportunities for organizations and individuals to provide input to the commission before decisions are made on casino licenses, he said.

The extent of public support, if approved by voters, will be among factors looked at by the commission in evaluating casino proposals across the state, Crosby said.

The primary factors being evaluated are: community mitigation, economic development, revenues and finances, building and site design, and a fifth factor, which Crosby calls “the wow factor,” he said.

If MGM is approved by voters, the voter turnout and more importantly, the margin of victory would also be factors looked at, Crosby said.

“If there is overwhelming support versus a 2 percent victory support, the more popular support there is that is clearly a stronger proposal,” Crosby said. “Would mean there is greater public support, and in the big picture that is a factor. It’s not going to be as significant as jobs and economic development, or revenue, or the amount of money invested in the product, but it will be a factor we will look at. And all other things being equal, the intensity of the support or the intensity of the opposition in the host community and in surrounding communities is of some significance.”

The anti-casino forces did raise concerns with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that MGM had a lopsided advantage in fundraising. MGM has contributed approximately $1 million to the “Yes for Springfield” campaign, while the anti-casino group had raised about $4,000, according to campaign finance reports.

The commission understands that financial advantage, but also understands the power of grassroots campaigns, Crosby said. Casinos have been defeated in other communities in Massachusetts despite funding advantages by the casinos, he said.

The commission will grant up to three casino licenses in Massachusetts including one casino in Western Massachusetts. Casinos are also being proposed by Mohegan Sun in Palmer and by Hard Rock International in West Springfield.

Both pro-casino and anti-casino forces had standouts at busy intersections on Monday, with MGM Chief Executive Officer and Chairman James Murren, and Hornbuckle, participating in a stand-out in downtown Springfield.

The Citizens Against Casino Gaming had standouts scheduled at the “X” in Springfield and on Page Boulevard.

MGM was planning to have monitors at the polls on Tuesday and Kogut said his group was going to have monitors at selected precincts. Monitors are allowed inside the polls by law to view the proceedings, Oyola said.

The polls workers and police are advised every election to make sure polling rules are followed by all groups and individuals, Oyola said.

On Tuesday, the anti-casino group said it expects to have about 90 percent of the polls covered with volunteers. The pro-casino group was expecting to be very visible, but was concentrating on making sure voters have rides to the polls in reaching out to voters, Hornbuckle said.

MGM and its proponent group, “Yes for Springfield,” will have 21 air-conditioned vans, providing rides, he said.

Hornbuckle said the reaction to the outreach has been “vastly positive.”

Kogut said his group was continuing to visit homes, make telephone calls, and show visibility.